Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The large mammal faunal sample, excavated since 1984 from the Late Pleistocene Klasies River main site, was studied. There are 27 species in eight genera represented. The bovids from the LBS member (110 000 years) and the Upper member (70 000 years) shows an increase in grazers relative to the fauna from the SAS member (100 000 years). This confirms previous research. The study of body part frequencies does not confirm the selective transport of the carcasses of larger bovids or that scavenging played an important role in the accumulation of the fauna. It is concluded that availability of marine mammals were the attraction of the locality and that all size classes of bovids were actively hunted and their carcasses returned to the site. KEYWORDS: Klasies River, Late Pleistocene, large mammal fauna, hunting. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die groot soogdier fauna van die Laat Pleistoseen vindplaas Klasies River main site, opgegrawe vanaf 1984, is bestudeer. Sewe-en-twintig spesies in agt genera is verteenwoordig. Die bokke van die LBS member (110 000 jare) en die Upper member (70 000 jare) toon 'n styging in grasvreters relatief tot dié van die SAS member (100 000 jare). Dit bevestig 'n vorige ondersoek. Die bestudering van ligaamsdeel frekwensies van alle groottes bokke bevestig nie dat selektiewe vervoer van groter bokkarkasse plaasgevind het nie, of dat aas 'n rol in die akkumulasie van die fauna gespeel het nie. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat die teenwoordigheid van marine soogdiere die rede was vir die keuse van hierdie vindplaas was. Alle groottes bokke is doelbewus gejag en hulle karkasse is teruggebring na die vindplaas. SLEUTELWOORDE: Klasies River, Laat Pleistoseen, groot soogdiere, jag.

Thesis (D Phil)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Late Pleistocene, Middle Stone Age artefact sequence at the Klasies River main site, was studied to establish what information this held for inferences on the emergence of symbolic thought and communication. The approach adopted was to complement traditional typological analysis by a technological study of artefact production within the framework of the chafne opératoire. The results show that technology was aimed at producing preformed blanks. In the choice of materials, the technique and method of blank production and the retouch of blanks, arbitrary or stylistic choices were made. Changes in stylistic conventions can be documented through the sequence. Changing conventions in artefact production show that the lives of the people who made the artefacts were structured in a symbolic web. These results together with evidence from evolutionary biology, show that by at least 115 000 years ago, people were able to think and speak symbolically. This African archaeological evidence for the emergence of symbolism, a defining attribute of modem peoples, is much older than previously considered. KEYWORDS: Klasies River, Middle Stone Age, technology, symbolic communication, human evolution. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Latere Pleistoseen, Middel Steentydperk artefakte by Klasiesrivier vindplaas is bestudeer om te bepaal watter kennis ingewin kan word aangaande die ontstaan van simboliese denkwyse en kommunikasie. Die benadering wat gevolg is, was om tradisionele tipologiese analise te komplementeer met 'n tegnologiese studie van artefak produksie binne die raamwerk van die chafne opératoire. Die resultate demonstreer dat tegnologie gemik was op die produksie van voorafgevormde skilfers. Die keuse van roumateriaal, die tegniek en metode van produksie en die herafwerk van skilfers is gelei deur arbitrêre stilistiese keuses. Veranderinge in hierdie konvensies kan gedokumenteer word deur die hele sekwens. Hierdie verandering is tipies van mense wie se lewens gestruktureer word deur 'n simboliese web. Dié resultate, en dié van evolusionêre biologie, dui daarop dat mense reeds teen 115 000 jaar gelede simboliese denke en spraak magtig was. Hierdie bewyse vanuit Afrika vir die ontstaan van simboliese gedrag is veel vroeër as vantevore gereken. SLEUTEL WOORDE: Klasiesrivier, Middel Steentydperk, tegnologie, simboliese kommunikasie, menslike evolusie.